Burner apparatus

ABSTRACT

This burner apparatus (S 1 ) includes: an ignition system ( 7 ) including a heating portion ( 7   a,    7   c ) which heats air-fuel mixture to its ignition temperature or more; and a windbreak device ( 10 ) placed around the heating portion ( 7   a,    7   c ) apart from the heating portion ( 7   a,    7   c ), and configured to reduce a flow speed of fluid (X) which is supplied to the heating portion ( 7   a,    7   c ). According to the burner apparatus (S 1 ), it is possible to improve the ignition performance of the ignition system, and to also generate high-temperature gas stably.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a burner apparatus that combustsair-fuel mixture of an oxidizing agent and fuel.

The present application claims priority on Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2009-165870, filed Jul. 14, 2009, and Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2009-226714, filed Sep. 30, 2009, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Minute particles (particulate matter) are contained in exhaust gas froma diesel engine or the like. The adverse effects on the environment whenthe minute particles are discharged into the atmosphere are a cause forserious concern. As a consequence, in recent years, a filter which isused to remove the minute particles from the exhaust gas (DPF) has beenmounted on vehicles powered by the diesel engine or the like.

This filter is formed of ceramics or the like that are porous materialwhich is provided with a plurality of holes which are smaller than theminute particles. This filter obstructs the passage of the minuteparticles, and collects the minute particles.

However, when the filter like this has been used for a prolonged period,the collected minute particles are accumulated therein and the filterbecomes clogged.

In order to prevent the filter like this from becoming clogged, forexample, as is shown in Patent Document 1, the method is used in whichhigh-temperature gas is supplied to the filter so that the collectedminute particles in the filter are burned and removed.

Specifically, in Patent Document 1, a burner apparatus is placed betweenthe diesel engine and the filter. Air-fuel mixture in which exhaust gasand fuel were mixed is combusted in the burner apparatus so as togenerate high-temperature gas. The minute particles are burned bysupplying this high-temperature gas to the filter.

DOCUMENTS OF THE PRIOR ART Patent Documents

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application, First Publication    No. 2007-154772

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the above-described burner apparatus, fuel which is injected from afuel injection system is mixed together with exhaust gas or the outsideair which is supplied as an oxidizing agent so as to generate air-fuelmixture. This air-fuel mixture is heated to its ignition temperature ormore by an ignition system, thereby the air-fuel mixture is ignited andcombusted.

However, in the burner apparatus, in general, a glow plug or a sparkplug is used as the ignition system and ignites the air-fuel mixture byvery small heat generating area. Thus, a burner apparatus in the priorart has problems in which a formed flame kernel is small, the flamekernel is blown off not to grow if a flow speed of fluid around the heatgenerating area is high, and ignition performance thereof is low.

The present invention was conceived in view of the above-describedproblems, and it is an object thereof to provide a burner apparatus thatis able to improve the ignition performance of the ignition system, andto also generate high-temperature gas stably.

Means for Solving the Problem

The present invention employs the following structure as a means ofsolving the above-described problems.

The first aspect of the present invention, as a burner apparatus thatcombusts air-fuel mixture of an oxidizing agent and fuel, employs thestructure in which the burner apparatus includes: an ignition systemincluding a heating portion which heats the air-fuel mixture to itsignition temperature or more; and a windbreak device placed around theheating portion apart from the heating portion, and configured to reducea flow speed of fluid which is supplied to the heating portion.

The second aspect of the present invention may employ the structure inwhich, in the above first aspect of the present invention, the windbreakdevice is a wall member surrounding an entire circumference of theheating portion, and the center of the wall member corresponds to theheating portion.

The third aspect of the present invention may employ the structure inwhich, in the above first or second aspect of the present invention, thewall member is provided with through-holes.

The fourth aspect of the present invention may employ the structure inwhich, in the above second or third aspect of the present invention, apart of the heating portion in the side of a combustion chamber wherecombustion of the air-fuel mixture is maintained is placed to protrudefrom the wall member toward the combustion chamber.

The fifth aspect of the present invention may employ the structure inwhich, in any one of the above first through fourth aspects of thepresent invention, the heating portion includes: a heat generatingsource configured to generate heat; and an auxiliary heating portionwhich is heated by the heat generating source to the ignitiontemperature or more and placed around the heat generating source.

The sixth aspect of the present invention may employ the structure inwhich, in any one of the above first through fifth aspects of thepresent invention, the burner apparatus further includes a partitionmember separating an ignition chamber where the heating portion isplaced from a combustion holding chamber where combustion of theair-fuel mixture is maintained, so that the air-fuel mixture is able topass between the ignition chamber and the combustion holding chamber,wherein the windbreak device is a plate member supported by thepartition member.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, a flow speed of fluid which issupplied to the heating portion is reduced by the windbreak device.Thus, it is possible to prevent a flame kernel formed by the heatingportion from being blown off, and to grow the flame kernel.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improvethe ignition performance of the ignition system, and to also generatehigh-temperature gas stably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an expanded perspective view including an auxiliary heatingportion provided on the burner apparatus of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an expanded perspective view including an auxiliary heatingportion provided on the burner apparatus of the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of avariant example of the burner apparatus of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

EMBODIMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a burner apparatus related to the presentinvention will be described with reference made to the drawings. Notethat in the following drawings, the scales of respective components havebeen suitably altered in order to describe each component in arecognizable size.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus S1 of the present embodiment.

This burner apparatus S1 is connected to an exhaust outlet of anapparatus that expels exhaust gas such as a diesel engine or the likewhich is located on the upstream side of the burner apparatus S1. Theburner apparatus S1 mixes together supplied exhaust gas X (i.e., anoxidizing agent) and fuel, and then combusts them so as to generatehigh-temperature gas Z. It also supplies the high-temperature gas Z to adownstream-side filter (a particulate filter). This burner apparatus 51is located, for example, between the diesel engine and the particulatefilter.

This burner apparatus S1 is provided with a supply flow path 1 and acombustion unit 2.

The supply flow path 1 is a flow path which is used to supply theexhaust gas X, which is supplied from the diesel engine or the like,directly to the filter. The supply flow path 1 is formed of a circularcylinder-shaped pipe. One end portion of the supply flow path 1 isconnected to an exhaust outlet of the diesel engine or the like, whilethe other end portion thereof is connected to the filter.

The combustion unit 2 is connected to the supply flow path 1. Thecombustion unit 2 mixes together a part of the exhaust gas X which flowsthrough the supply flow path 1 and fuel therein, and then combusts themso as to generate high-temperature gas. This combustion unit 2 isprovided with a pipe body 4, a fuel supply portion 5, an ignition system7, a partition member 8, a combustion supporting air supply apparatus 9,and a windbreak cover 10 (i.e., a windbreak device).

The pipe body 4 is a pipe-shaped member which forms the outer shape ofthe combustion unit 2, and has a hollow interior. The pipe body 4 isconnected to the supply flow path 1 in an orthogonal direction relativeto the direction in which the supply flow path 1 extends. Additionally,in the following description, the direction in which the pipe body 4extends in FIG. 1 is defined as a vertical direction.

The fuel supply portion 5 is configured to supply fuel to a auxiliaryheating portion 7 c which is placed at a tip section 7 a of a glow plug7 b provided on the ignition system 7. The glow plug 7 b is describedlater.

The ignition system 7 includes the glow plug 7 b which heats theair-fuel mixture to its ignition temperature or more and in which thetip section 7 a thereof is a heat generating source. The ignition system7 further includes the auxiliary heating portion 7 c which is placedaround the tip section 7 a.

The glow plug 7 b is configured so that the tip section 7 a is heated tothe ignition temperature of the air-fuel mixture or more under thecontrol of a control system (not shown).

In addition, the auxiliary heating portion 7 c is heated to the ignitiontemperature or more by the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b, andincludes internal space (for example, a plurality of minute holes) wherefuel supplied from the fuel supply portion 5 is kept. This auxiliaryheating portion 7 b can be formed of, for example, wire mesh, sinteredmetal, metal fiber, glass fiber fabric, porous ceramics, ceramic fiber,pumice or the like.

In the ignition system 7 like this, the air-fuel mixture is heated toits ignition temperature or more by both the tip section 7 a of the glowplug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7 c. That is, in the presentembodiment, the heating portion of the present invention is configuredby the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heatingportion 7 c.

The partition member 8 partitions the interior of the pipe body 4 intoan exhaust gas flow path R1 through which the exhaust gas X introducedfrom the supply flow path 1 flows, and an ignition chamber R2 where theignition system 7 is placed.

This partition member 8 is placed in the central area of the pipe body4, and extends along the extending direction of the pipe body 4 (i.e.,the vertical direction). The tip end (i.e., the lower end) of thepartition member 8 is placed apart from a bottom surface of the pipebody 4. As is shown in FIG. 1, the partition member 8 is configured toallow the exhaust gas X to flow from the exhaust gas flow path R1 to theignition chamber R2 through a gap between the partition member 8 and thebottom surface of the pipe body 4.

The combustion supporting air supply apparatus 9 accessorily suppliesair to the interior of the pipe body 4 (i.e., to the exhaust gas flowpath R1) as necessary. The combustion supporting air supply apparatus 9is provided with an air supply device which supplies air, and withpiping or the like which connects this air supply device to the interiorof the pipe body 4.

As is shown in FIG. 2 as a expanded view, the windbreak cover 10 isplaced around both the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and theauxiliary heating portion 7 c, apart from both the tip section 7 a ofthe glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7 c, and is fixed toa inner wall of the pipe body 4 by a supporting member (not shown). Aflow speed of the exhaust gas X (i.e., fluid) which is supplied to thetip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7c is reduced by the windbreak cover 10.

This windbreak cover 10 is formed of a wall member surrounding an entirecircumference of both the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and theauxiliary heating portion 7 c, and the center of the wall membercorresponds to the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and theauxiliary heating portion 7 c. Additionally, each wall member isprovided with a plurality of through-holes 10 a.

In the burner apparatus S1 configured like this of the presentembodiment, the exhaust gas X is introduced from the supply flow path 1to the exhaust gas flow path R1, and then supplied to the ignitionchamber R2.

On the other hand, the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b is heatedunder the control of the control system (not shown), and thereby theauxiliary heating portion 7 c is heated to the ignition temperature ofthe air-fuel mixture or more. Fuel supplied from the fuel supply portion5 to the auxiliary heating portion 7 c is volatilized, and mixedtogether with the exhaust gas X so as to generate the air-fuel mixture.The air-fuel mixture is heated to the ignition temperature or more bythe tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heatingportion 7 c, and is ignited.

When the air-fuel mixture is ignited like this in the ignition chamberR2, in a combustion chamber N, an uncombusted air-fuel mixture iscombusted together with the exhaust gas X supplied from the upper side,combustion flames are maintained, and high-temperature gas Z isgenerated stably.

Here, in the burner apparatus S1 of the present embodiment, by thewindbreak cover 10, the flow speed of the exhaust gas X which issupplied to the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliaryheating portion 7 c is reduced. Thereby, it is possible to prevent aflame kernel formed by the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and theauxiliary heating portion 7 c from being blown off, and to grow theflame kernel.

Therefore, according to the burner apparatus S1 of the presentembodiment, it is possible to improve the ignition performance of theignition system 7, and to also generate the high-temperature gas Zstably.

Additionally, in the burner apparatus S1 of the present embodiment, thewindbreak cover 10 is formed of the wall member surrounding both the tipsection 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7 c.

Thereby, if the exhaust gas X is supplied from any position around thetip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7c, it is possible to reduce the flow speed of the exhaust gas X.

Besides, in the burner apparatus S1 of the present embodiment, the wallmember forming the windbreak cover 10 is provided with the plurality ofthrough-holes 10 a.

Thereby, a part of the exhaust gas X which has hit the windbreak cover10 flows into the interior of the windbreak cover 10. Therefore, it ispossible to prevent the amount of oxygen in the windbreak cover 10 fromdecreasing, and to promote the growth of the flame kernel.

Furthermore, in the burner apparatus S1 of the present embodiment, theheating portion of the present invention is configured by both the tipsection 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7 c.

Thereby, it is possible to expand the heating area thereof compared withthe case in which only the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b is usedas a heating portion, and to improve the ignition performance thereof.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.Note that in the description of the present embodiment, any descriptionof structure that is the same as in the above described first embodimentis either omitted or simplified.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus S2 of the present embodiment. In addition, FIG. 4 is anexpanded perspective view including the auxiliary heating portion 7 cprovided on the burner apparatus S2 of the present embodiment. As isshown in these figures, the burner apparatus S2 of the presentembodiment includes a windbreak cover 20 whose height is about half ofthat of the auxiliary heating portion 7 c.

That is, in the burner apparatus S2 of the present embodiment, a part ofthe auxiliary heating portion 7 c in the side of the combustion chamberN is placed to protrude from the windbreak cover 20 (i.e., a wallmember) toward the combustion chamber N.

According to the burner apparatus S2 of the present embodiment includingthe structure like this, a flow speed of the exhaust gas X in a lowerarea about the auxiliary heating portion 7 c which is surrounded by thewindbreak cover 20 is reduced. In contrast, a flow speed of the exhaustgas X in an upper area about the auxiliary heating portion 7 c which isnot surrounded by the windbreak cover 20 is not reduced and ismaintained.

In the burner apparatus S2 of the present embodiment like this, a flamekernel is formed and grows in the vicinity of the lower area of theauxiliary heating portion 7 c. Then, this flame kernel is exposed to afast flow of the exhaust gas X in the vicinity of the upper area of theauxiliary heating portion 7 c, and propagated to the combustion chamberN under surroundings which have a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Therefore, according to the burner apparatus S2 of the presentinvention, it is possible to promote the growth of the flame kernel, andto steadily propagate the flame kernel to the combustion chamber N.

Third Embodiment

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.Note that in the description of the present embodiment, any descriptionof structure that is the same as in the above described first embodimentis either omitted or simplified.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of aburner apparatus S3 of the present embodiment. As is shown in thisfigure, in the burner apparatus S3 of the present embodiment, thepartition member 8 includes a central plate 8 a which extends along theextending direction (i.e., the vertical direction) of the pipe body 4 inthe central area of the pipe body 4, and a side plate 8 b which extendsfrom the central plate 8 a along the extending direction of the supplyflow path 1, that is, along the orthogonal direction (i.e., thehorizontal direction) relative to the extending direction of the pipebody 4. The tip end (the lower end) of the central plate 8 a is placedapart from a bottom surface of the pipe body 4. The tip end of the sideplate 8 b is placed apart from a side surface of the pipe body 4, andthe side surface facing toward the side plate 8 b. The partition member8 partitions the interior of the pipe body 4 into the exhaust gas flowpath R1 through which the exhaust gas X introduced from the supply flowpath 1 flows, the ignition chamber R2 where the ignition system 7 isplaced, and a combustion holding chamber R3 where combustion of theair-fuel mixture Y is maintained.

As is shown in FIG. 5, this partition member 8 is configured to allowthe exhaust gas X to flow from the exhaust gas flow path R1 to theignition chamber R2 through a gap between the central plate 8 a and thebottom surface of the pipe body 4, and to allow the air-fuel mixture Yto flow from the ignition chamber R2 to the combustion holding chamberR3 through a gap between the side plate 8 b and the side surface of thepipe body 4.

The partition member 8 like this is placed so that a gap is formedbetween the partition member 8 and the pipe body 4. The partition member8 is configured to regulate the flow speed of the air-fuel mixture Y soas to stabilize combustion in the combustion holding chamber R3, by theair-fuel mixture Y flowing from the ignition chamber R2 to thecombustion holding chamber R3 through the gap.

In addition, the partition member 8 is configured so that the air-fuelmixture Y flows from the lower side toward the upper side through thegap formed near the pipe body 4, and the air-fuel mixture Y hits a flowof the exhaust gas X (i.e., a flow of an oxidizing agent) which issupplied from an area above the combustion holding chamber R3 (i.e., theoutside) along a wall surface of the pipe body 4 to the combustionholding chamber R3.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the flow passage area from theexhaust gas flow path R1 to the ignition chamber R2 is larger than theflow passage area from the ignition chamber R2 to the combustion holdingchamber R3. Thereby, the ignition chamber R2 is always filled up withgas, a flow speed of fluid in the ignition chamber R2 is reduced, andthe ignition performance thereof is improved.

The burner apparatus S3 of the present embodiment further includes aplate member 30 which is supported by the above partition member 8, asthe windbreak device of the present invention.

An upper end portion of this plate member 30 is fixed to a lower endportion of the central plate 8 a of the partition member 8. The platemember 30 is placed to extend obliquely downward from the upper endportion thereof. A lower end portion of the plate member 30 is placedbetween the gap and the placement area, the gap formed between thecentral plate 8 a and the bottom surface of the pipe body 4, and theplacement area where the tip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and theauxiliary heating portion 7 c are placed. Furthermore, it is preferablethat the lower end portion of the plate member 30 is placed to beingspaced about 5 mm from the gap formed between the central plate 8 a andthe bottom surface of the pipe body 4.

According to the burner apparatus S3 of the present embodiment likethis, the exhaust gas X does not directly hit the tip section 7 a of theglow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7 c, because the lowerend portion of the plate member 30 changes the flow of the exhaust gasX. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a flame kernel formed by thetip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7c from being blown off and being cooled, and to grow the flame kernel.

Therefore, according to the burner apparatus S3 of the presentembodiment, it is possible to improve the ignition performance of theignition system 7, and to also generate the high-temperature gas Zstably.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described abovewith reference made to the figures, however, the present invention isnot limited to the above embodiments. The various configurations andcombinations and the like of the respective component elementsillustrated in the above described embodiments are merely examplesthereof. Various modifications and the like to the present invention maybe made based on the design requirements and the like insofar as they donot depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above described embodiments, the T-shaped burnerapparatus was explained, in which the pipe body 4 is connected to thesupply flow path 1 orthogonally.

However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and itis possible to apply the present invention to burner apparatusesincluding other structures.

Additionally, in the above described embodiments, the structure wasexplained, in which each the windbreak cover 10, 20 surrounds both thetip section 7 a of the glow plug 7 b and the auxiliary heating portion 7c.

However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, forexample, it is possible to employ the structure in which a windbreakcover is placed at only one portion in the side of the exhaust gas flowpath R1.

Additionally, in the above described embodiments, the structure wasexplained, in which each the windbreak cover 10, 20 has a rectangularshape in a plane view.

However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and awindbreak cover may have other shape as a circular shape or the like inthe plane view.

Additionally, in the above described embodiments, the structure wasexplained, in which the fuel supply portion 5 supplies fuel to theauxiliary heating portion 7 c directly.

However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and itis possible to employ the structure in which an injector sprays fuel soas to supply it to the auxiliary heating portion 7 c.

Additionally, in the above described embodiments, the structure in whichthe combustion supporting air supply apparatus 9 is provided wasemployed. However, if the concentration of oxygen to be contained in theexhaust gas X is high enough, it is possible to omit the combustionsupporting air supply apparatus 9.

Additionally, in the above described embodiments, the structure in whichthe exhaust gas X is used as an oxidizing agent was explained.

However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and itis possible to use air as an oxidizing agent.

In the case like this, for example, the structure is employed, in whichthe end portion of the exhaust gas flow path R1 connected to the supplyflow path 1 is closed, and air is supplied from the combustionsupporting air supply apparatus 9 not secondarily but primarily as anoxidizing agent.

Additionally, as is shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to employ thestructure in which the internal structure and the connection structureof the pipe body 4 are placed in vertical symmetry relative to thestructure shown in the above described first embodiment. When thestructure like this is employed, the internal structure (the partitionmember 8, the fuel supply portion 5, the ignition system 7 and the like)and the connection structure (the combustion supporting air supplyapparatus 9) of the pipe body 4 are installed on an upper portion of thesupply flow path 1.

Furthermore, in the burner apparatus S1′ in FIG. 6, the structure isemployed and shown, in which the internal structure and the connectionstructure of the pipe body 4 are placed in vertical symmetry relative tothe burner apparatus S1 in the above described first embodiment.However, it is possible to employ the structure in which the internalstructure and the connection structure of the pipe body 4 are placed invertical symmetry relative to the burner apparatus S2 or S3 in the abovedescribed second or third embodiment or variant examples thereof.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to a burner apparatus of the presentinvention, it is possible to improve the ignition performance of anignition system, and to also generate high-temperature gas stably.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   S1, S2, S3 . . . . Burner apparatus-   R1 . . . . Exhaust gas flow path-   R2 . . . . Ignition chamber-   N . . . . Combustion chamber-   7 . . . . Ignition system-   7 a . . . . Tip section-   7 b . . . . Glow plug-   7 c . . . . Auxiliary heating portion-   8 . . . . Partition member-   10, 20 . . . . Windbreak cover (Windbreak device)-   10 a . . . . Through-hole-   30 . . . . Plate member (Windbreak device)-   X . . . . Exhaust gas (Oxidizing agent, Fluid)

1. A burner apparatus that combusts air-fuel mixture of an oxidizingagent and fuel, comprising: an ignition system including a heatingportion which heats the air-fuel mixture to its ignition temperature ormore; and a windbreak device placed around the heating portion apartfrom the heating portion, and configured to reduce a flow speed of fluidwhich is supplied to the heating portion.
 2. The burner apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the windbreak device is a wall membersurrounding an entire circumference of the heating portion, and thecenter of the wall member corresponds to the heating portion.
 3. Theburner apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wall member isprovided with through-holes.
 4. The burner apparatus according to claim2, wherein a part of the heating portion in the side of a combustionchamber where combustion of the air-fuel mixture is maintained is placedto protrude from the wall member toward the combustion chamber.
 5. Theburner apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a part of the heatingportion in the side of a combustion chamber where combustion of theair-fuel mixture is maintained is placed to protrude from the wallmember toward the combustion chamber.
 6. The burner apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the heating portion includes: a heat generatingsource configured to generate heat; and an auxiliary heating portionwhich is heated by the heat generating source to the ignitiontemperature or more and placed around the heat generating source.
 7. Theburner apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a partitionmember separating an ignition chamber where the heating portion isplaced from a combustion holding chamber where combustion of theair-fuel mixture is maintained, so that the air-fuel mixture is able topass between the ignition chamber and the combustion holding chamber,wherein the windbreak device is a plate member supported by thepartition member.
 8. The burner apparatus according to claim 6, furthercomprising a partition member separating an ignition chamber where theheating portion is placed from a combustion holding chamber wherecombustion of the air-fuel mixture is maintained, so that the air-fuelmixture is able to pass between the ignition chamber and the combustionholding chamber, wherein the windbreak device is a plate membersupported by the partition member.